Year 3 Swimming

During their time in Year 3, your child will go to Chadderton Pool for swimming lessons. It is an hour session with swimming time approximately 45 minutes. Children are accompanied by a class teacher and/or support teacher. The children walk to and from the pool.

Swimming kit

Close-fitting trunks, not shorts.

Swimming costume

Swimming cap for children with long hair (provided by school).

It is important that the children bring with them a towel large enough that they can dry themselves properly. Jewellery must be removed before entering the pool including earrings. Pierced ears are not an excuse to miss swimming and children must only have their ears pierced in the summer holidays to allow them time to heal for swimming. Children are not allowed to wear goggles. We have a few swimming kits in school to lend in an emergency, but obviously it is better that children remember to bring their own kit, rather than borrow one.

Children are only allowed to miss swimming due to a serious injury or illness, not coughs, colds and minor illness. If children are well enough to be in school, they are generally well enough to go swimming.

Swimming is a skill that could save your child’s life. Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in children so it is vital that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim and gain confidence in the water. Swimming is part of the National Curriculum in England and lessons are delivered by experienced, qualified, swimming teachers. The curriculum states:

All schools must provide swimming instruction either in key stage 1 or key stage 2.

In particular, pupils should be taught to:

swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres

use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke)

perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

It would be really helpful to your child if they visit a swimming pool with you on a regular basis to build up their confidence in water.

Further Information

Please click below to view the school brochure, as well as more information from the School Swimming Service and ASA.